Fireplace unit

ABSTRACT

A fireplace unit having upper and lower enclosing portions of ceramic material, joined by a girth band which incorporates circumferentially sliding doors. The lower portion comprises a firebox and contains a grille which is readily accessible through the doors, the upper portion being a vented cover. The unit can be floor or wall mounted, the mounting including a reflective shield which remains cool and allows close spacing of the unit from its support. In one form the lower firebox portion is readily removable. The unit is firmly supported and is particularly suitable for use on a boat.

United States Patent Becker May 7, 1974 FIREPLACE UNIT PrimaryExaminer-Edward G. Favors [76] lnventor: Alvin L. Becker, 3109 CarnegiePL, Agent San Diego, Calif. 92122 [22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT[21] Appl. No.: 337,900 A fireplace unit having upper and lowerenclosing portions of ceramic material, joined by a girth band whichincorporates circumferentially sliding doors. [2%] The lower portioncomprises a firebox and contains a i 121 23 grille which is readilyaccessible through the doors, 1 0 care 26/ the upper portion being avented cover. The unit can be floor or wall mounted, the mountingincluding a re- 56 R f C1 d flective shield which remains cool andallows close 1 e erences l e spacing of the unit from its support. Inone form the UNITED STATES PATENTS lower firebox portion is readilyremovable. The unitis 3,220,400 11/1965 Yager 126/25 R X firmlysupported and is particularly suitable for use on 3,499,432 3/l970Hannebaum 126/120 a boat; 3,339,540 9/1967 Kreider l26/l2l 10 Claims, 5Drawing Figures PATENTEDIAY 7 I974 111 I l A 1 I,

Fig. 5

FIREPLACE UNIT available as self-contained units for floor or wallmounting. Some are open types used with an overhead hood and vent, andmay or may not have a grille over the firebox or pan. Others arespecifically for barbecue purposes and may include covers, rotisseriesand other accessories. Some are stove types primarily for heating, withthe fire essentially enclosed. In most instances the unit must be spacedwell clear of supporting structure, or special insulation installed forsafety. Open types in particular, are dangerous and limited to suitablyprotected installations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The fireplace unit described herein is aselfcontained structure adaptable to many different installations, evenon a boat. The unit comprises upper and lower enclosing portions ofceramic material, joined by a wide girth band which incorporates slidingdoors. A simple mounting holds the unit securely, either on a supportingsurface such as a floor or deck, or hung from an upright support such asa wall or bulkhead. The lower portion of the unit serves as a fireboxand contains a grille which is accessible through the doors. Areflective shield surrounds a major portion of the unit and reflectsheat in a controlled direction, while remaining sufficiently cool topermit close spacing of the unit from its supporting surfaces.

The doors slide circumferentially to open almost half of thecircumference of the unit, allowing the grille to be used for barbecueor hibachi type cooking. A vent in the upper cover portion is easilyconnected to a flue to carry off fumes and combustion gases. Thefireplace is adaptable to a variety of fuels, or could be fitted with agas burner.

The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a new andimproved fireplace unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedfireplace unit having doors in the central portion for access to aninternal grille.

Another object of thisinvention is to provide a new and improvedfireplace unit having secure mounting means adaptable to floor or wallmounting.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedfireplace unit having a heat shield which allows close spacing fromsupporting surfaces.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upona reading of the following detailed description and an examination ofthe drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate like partsthroughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the complete fireplace unit.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view with a portion cut away FIG. 3 is asectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2

- FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENT The fireplace unit comprises a lower firebox 10-and an upper cover 12 formed of ceramic or similar refractory materialand joined by a metal girth band 14. This structure is partiallysurrounded by a shield 16 attached to a support bracket 18, by which theunit is secured to convenient supporting structure.

Firebox 10 is illustrated as being of circular cross section and tapersto a reduced diameter at the substantially flat lower end 20. Inthe'lower front portion is a flat faced protrusion 22, in which is aremovable fire door 24. The fire door preferably has an adjustable draftvent of suitable type, various configurations being well known. At theupper end of firebox 10 is a circumferential external rib 26, with aninset upwardly extending flange 28. Just below the upper end of thefirebox is a circumferential internal rib 30, providing a support forthe grille 32, and just above fire door 24 is a rib 31 to support aperforated grate 33.

Cover 12 is a domed structure with a short vent pipe 34 at the top. Thelower periphery of the cover has an external rib 36, with an insetdownwardly extending flange 38. It should be noted that the preciseconfiguration of the ceramic elements may vary somewhat for stylingpurposes. I

The girth band 14 is of corrosion and heat resistant material, such asstainless steel, and is clamped around flanges 28 and 38 between ribs 26and 36 to secure the two ceramic components together. The ends of thegirth band have a small overlap 40 at the rear of the unit to preventleakage of fumes, and the band is tightened by bolts 42 through lugs 44on the two ends of the band. Inside the upper end of girth band 14 is aspacer band 46 which contacts flange 38. The width of spacer band 46 isless than the depth of flange 38, to leave a narrow channel 48' betweenthe flange and the girth band, as in FIG. 4. Inside the lower end of thegirth band 14 is a similar spacer band 50, forming a channel 52 betweenflange 28 and the girth band. The front portion of the girth band has ahorizontal opening 54 extending for almost half of the circumference,and of sufficient height to provide ready access to the grille 32 forcooking purposes. Mounted in opening 54 are doors 56, the upper andlower edges of which ride inchannels 48 and 52. The doors completelyclose the opening when brought together, and slide back on oppositesides to almost the full width of the opening, the spacer bands 46 and50 being of sufficient thickness to allow the doors to slide freely. Thedoors 56 are preferably of the same material as girth band 14 and areprovided with handles 58 for ease of operation when hot.

Bracket 18 includes an upright post 60 for attachment to a wall, thelower end of the post having a forwardly extending arm 62. Secured ontop of arm 62 is acircular base plate 64 on which the firebox l0 rests,the base plate having a circumferential flange 66 extending downwardlybelow the arm. Shield 16 is a sheet metal element wrapped in cylindricalform around base plate 64 and extending upwardly at the rear tosubstantially the full height of the fireplace. The front portion ofshield 16 is cut away down to the base plate for access to thefireplace. The shield is secured to the base plate and to post 60 in anysuitable manner to form an integral supporting structure, which can bewall hung or placed on the floor, as indicated in FIG. 2. For stability,the fireplace is secured to the supporting structure by screws orsimilar connectors 68 from girth band 14 tothe. shield 16. With thestructure thus secured together, the fireplacev unit can be used onboard a boat without fear of tipping over. In any installation, a ventor flue 70 would extend from vent pipe 34 to an exterior outlet.

The configuration illustrated in FIG. 5 is designed for wall hungmounting only and could be made smaller than the standing-model. Thecover 12 and girth band 14 with doors 56, are as described above, butthe firebox 72 isshown as being proportionally shorter. Wall I bracket74 has a forwardly extending arm 76 having a clamp screw 78 which can betightened upwardly against the bottom of firebox 72. By adjusting thelower end of the girth band so thattfirebox 72 is not gripped tightly,the firebox can be removed by loosening clamp screw 78 and usedseparately as a hibachi. The removal also faciliates emptying andcleaning.

Shield 80 is generally semi-cylindrical and extends from bracket 74around slightly more than half of the circumference of the unit, and issecured to girth band 14 by connectors 68.- The unit is thus a rigidassembly which can safely be used on board a boat.

in use, the fireplace unit can be used for barbecue or hibachi typecooking on the grille. With suitable fuel the unit can also be used forsmoking, with the doors fully closed. The ceramic portions also act aseffective heat radiators in prolonged use, the reflector directing theheat forwardly into the area of use. With an efficient reflector, suchas polished stainless steel or the like, the area to the rear of theunit stays reasonably cool and it is possible to mount the unit close toadja cent structure.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A fireplace unit, comprising:

a lower firebox portion;

an upper cover portion spaced above said lower portion and having avent; a girth band secured to and connecting said firebox and coverportions;

said girth band having an opening therein with upper and lower guidemeans extending across the opening;

girth band and being accessible through said opening.

3. A fireplace unit according to claim 1, wherein said firebox portionis substantially cylindrical, the upper end thereof having an insetcircumferential flange;

said cover portion being of domed configuration, the

lower edge thereof having an inset peripheral flange; I and said girthband being secured around said flanges.

4. A fireplace unit according to claim 3, wherein said flanges haveportions spaced from said girth band, defining upper and lowercircumferential channels therebetween and comprising said guide means;

said doors being circumferentially slidable in said channels. I

5. A fireplace unit according to claim 4, wherein said opening extendsfor substantially half the circumference of said girth band.

6. A fireplace unit according to claim 5, wherein said firebox portionhas an internal circumferential rib below the upper end thereof;

and a grille supported on said rib for access through said opening.

7. A fireplace unit according to claim I, and includ ing a reflectiveshield secured to said girth band and extending around substantiallyhalf of the circumference of the unit.

8. A fireplace unit according to claim 7, and including a supportbracket secured to said shield for attachment to a supporting surface,said bracket having an arm extending below and supporting said fireboxportion.

9. A fireplace unit according to claim 8, wherein said arm has a clampmember adjustably mounted thereof for releasable engagement with saidfirebox portion.

10. A fireplace unit according to claim 9, wherein said shield extendssubstantially the full height of the unit.

1. A fireplace unit, comprising: a lower firebox portion; an upper cover portion spaced above said lower portion and having a vent; a girth band secured to and connecting said firebox and cover portions; said girth band having an opening therein with upper and lower guide means extending across the opening; and doors slidably mounted in said guide means for selective positioning across said opening.
 2. A fireplace unit according to claim 1, and including a grille mounted in said firebox portion below said girth band and being accessible through said opening.
 3. A fireplace unit according to claim 1, wherein said firebox portion is substantially cylindrical, the upper end thereof having an inset circumferential flange; said cover portion being of domed configuration, the lower edge thereof having an inset peripheral flange; and said girth band being secured around said flanges.
 4. A fireplace unit according to claim 3, wherein said flanges have portions spaced from said girth band, defining upper and lower circumferential channels therebetween and comprising said guide means; said doors being circumferentially slidable in said channels.
 5. A fireplace unit according to claim 4, wherein said opening extends for substantially half the circumference of said girth band.
 6. A fireplace unit according to claim 5, wherein said firebox portion has an internal circumferential rib below the upper end thereof; and a grille supported on said rib for access through said opening.
 7. A fireplace unit according to claim 1, and including a reflective shield secured to said girth band and extending around substantially half of the circumference of the unit.
 8. A fireplace unit according to claim 7, and including a support bracket secured to said shield for attachment to a supporting surface, said bracket having an arm extending below and supporting said firebox portion.
 9. A fireplace unit according to claim 8, wherein said arm has a clamp member adjustably mounted thereof for releasable engagement with said firebox portion.
 10. A fireplace unit according to claim 9, wherein said shield extends substantially the full height of the unit. 